New Grub Street by George Gissing follows two contrasting writers in Victorian London: the talented but underemployed Edwin Reardon, who sees writing as a vocation, and the industrious but cynical Jasper Milvain, who views it as a means to financial success. Their differing attitudes lead to personal and professional struggles, ultimately highlighting the precarious existence of writers in a capitalist society.

Melancholic

Gritty

Contemplative

Dark

Challenging

Reviews & Readership

4.0

6,668 ratings

65%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

12%

Not a fan

Review Roundup

George Gissing's New Grub Street is highly regarded for its realistic portrayal of Victorian literary life, highlighting the tension between artistic integrity and commercial success. Critics praise its character depth and societal critique, though some find its bleakness overwhelming. Overall, it remains a compelling study of ambition and disillusionment in the literary world.

Who Should Read New Grub Street?

Readers who appreciate a realistic, gritty portrayal of literary life and the struggles of writers will enjoy New Grub Street by George Gissing. Ideal for fans of Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield and Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure, this novel delves into the socioeconomic hardships and personal sacrifices of its characters.

4.0

6,668 ratings

65%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

12%

Not a fan

Fun Facts

New Grub Street is considered one of George Gissing's best works and provides a critical look at the literary world of late 19th-century London, often seen as a reflection of Gissing's own struggles and disillusionment with the publishing industry.

The novel highlights the conflict between artistic integrity and commercial success, a theme that resonates with many writers of Gissing's era, and reflects societal shifts towards more mass-market literary productions.

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Gissing's portrayal of the protagonist's bleak circumstances in New Grub Street is informed by the author's own experiences, as he often faced financial difficulties and struggled to balance creative aspirations with the necessity of income.

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Book Details

Pages

544

Format

Novel • Fiction

Genre

Classic Fiction

•

British Literature

•

Historical Fiction

Period